Elder Statesman Matthew Mbu dies at 82.

Elder Statesman and a First Republic Minister Matthew Mbu is dead.  He died yesterday in London. He was 82. 

A statement by his family said: “It is with the deepest regret, but also with total submission to God’s will, that the family of Ambassador (Dr.) M. T. Mbu regret to announce the passing of their patriarch in London at the age of 82. Funeral arrangements to be announced in due course.”

Matthew Tawo Mbu, popular as MT Mbu, was born November 20, 1929. A lawyer, politician, diplomat and a permanent fixture in Nigeria’s political affairs for more than 50 years, he was born in Okundi, Cross River State.

He received his early education at Okundi Primary School from 1937 to 1940. He also attended the Kakwagon Seminary School between 1941and 1943, before proceeding to Middle Temple and University College, London, from 1955 to 1959, where he received the LLB and the LLM. Mbu was called to the Bar, Middle Temple.

Mbu’s political career began with his membership of Parliament from 1952 to 1955. He served Nigeria in various capacities, including: Federal Minister of Labour, 1954, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), 1955 to 1959 and Representative of Nigeria, Washington DC, 1966. 

He was the youngest Nigerian ever to be in the federal cabinet. Between 1960 and 1966, Mbu was in Parliament. During the latter period in Parliament, he was Minister of Defence in charge of the Navy.

He was appointed Chairman, Eastern Nigeria Public Service Commission in 1967, and became Member, Constituent Assembly from 1977 to 1978. He was the first national vice-chairman of the Nigeria People’s Party from 1979 to 1981 before moving to the National Party of Nigeria from 1981 to 1983.

Mbu represented the country as an ambassador to some countries, including a recent appointment as Ambassador to Germany.

Mbu was Foreign Minister from January to November 1993. 

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described Mbu as a nationalist and globalist.

The President, who paid the tributes through a statement last night by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said: “He was an icon of the legal profession and the Diplomatic Corps, who served Nigeria selflessly as a Minister; as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and in several other capacities.”